US1778775A - Apparatus for delivering charges of molten glass - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 21 193@ NITED STTS PATENT OFFICE LEONABD D. SOUBIER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO OWENS-ILLINOIS GIASS COMPANY OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A COBPORATION OF OHIO PPARATUS FOR 'DELIVERING CHARGES OF MOLTEN GLASS Application filed May 2, 1924. Serial No. 710,&88.

My invention relates to apparatus for feed ing molten glass through an outlet in a container, controlling the flow, and deliverng the glass in the form of individual charges or gobs, adapted for entering the molds of a forming machine. In feeders of this type at present in use, the discharge of glass is ordinarily controlled by a vertically reciprocating plug or regulator projecting into the glass above the outlet. The plug during its downward movement exerts an expelling force on the glass, and during its upward movement exerts an upward pull or retardng force on the glass at'the outlet. The time during which an expelling force is applied to the glass is thus confined to the time during which the plug is moved downward The retarding action, in like manner, takes place during the upward stroke.

An object of the present invention is to provide a .practical form of apparatus comprising a' regulating device operable to exert an expelling force on 'the issumg glass, which is not dependent u on and limited to a downward movement ot the regulator, and 'which may be extended over any desired periods.

It desired, this expelling force may be made continuous.

further feature of the invention relates ao to the provision of a regulator provided with a screw thread pr spiral surface which may be utilized in ap lying either an expelling or retarding acti n on the glass. Such action may be efl'ected by a'relative rotaton of the 85 container and regulator, preferably a rotation of the regulator. Moreover, the rotation of the regulator may be either intermittent or continuous,` depending upon the particular results desired.

10 A further object obtained by the use of a' spiral or screw threaded regulator, consists in the circulation of the glass thereby, such circulation being around the axis of the outlet; so`that stagnation or one-sided chilling &5 of the glass is prevented.

Other ohjects of the invention will appear.

h'ereina'fter.

In the accompanyin'gdrawings: Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a Construction embodying one form of the invention comprising a screw plug and means for rotating it.

Figure 2 is a part sectional front elevation of the same.. v

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken at the line III--III on Fgure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the molten glass 21 is contnuously supplied to the furnace boot or extension 22 having a well or passageway 23 in the floor thereof, terminating in an outlet'opening 24; formed in a bushing 25 at the bottom of said well. The glass, as it issues, is Suspended from the walls of the outlet and is periodically severed by shears 26 permitting the formed charges or gobs of glass 27`to drop.

The discharge of the glass is controlled by a regulator 28 made of fire'clay orjther re- ;t'ractory material. The lower portion of this plug or regulator is in the form of a screw, comprising a tapered core 29 surrounded by an integral spiral thread 30. The regulator is provided with a' stem 31 preferably made of metal, which has a hearing in a stationa'ry yoke 32 mounted on vertical standards 91 on the supporting frame of the boot.

The yoke 32 is adjusta'ble vertically on the standards 91 and is secured in adjusted position by set screws 10. There is thus provided means for adjusting the regulator 28 ver-' tically. i

Means are provided for rotating the regulator about its vertical axis either intermittently or continuously at either a constant or variable speed. Such means comprises a drive shaft 39 to which motion is imparted through a sprocket wheel and chain 41. Motion is transmitted from the shaft39 through a sprocket chain 42 to a shaft 43 mounted on the yoke 32 and carr ing a bevel pinion 44 running in mesh witi a gear 4:5 on the stern 31., A. key 46 in the gear'45 is slidable vertically in a keyway in the stern 31, thereby permitting vertical adjustment of the reguator.

By rotating the. drive shaft 39 continuously, a contnuous rotation is imparted to the regulator. -Ir' the letter is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the spiral thread .30 will exert a constant downward or expelling force on the issuing glass. This expelling force augments the force of gravity and tends to produce a substantially constant flow independently of the varying amount of glass Suspended from the walls of the outlet. As is well understood by those Versed in the art, the tendency of glass flowing by gravity from an outlet is first to flow comparatively slowly, producin a knob or ball of glass below the outlet. T ie downward movement of the glass is gradually accelerated under the influence of gravit causing the flow to break into a stream o comparatively small diameter and rapid movement. By the use of'the screw plug or regulator rotating as above described, the rate at which the glass issues is maintaned comparatively constant, and the diameter of the descending column or stream substantially uniform, so that when periodically severed by the shears 26, the charges or gobs 27 are substantially symmetrical and of uniform diameter throughout their length. Moreover, owing to the expelling force of the regulator, the glass can be discharged through a smaller outlet 24 than is practical or possible without the use of the regulator. This smaller diameter of opening results in a gob of better shape for many purposes than is obtainable with a larger opening. It will be observed that the screw lug projects down into the well 23, thus conning the glass to a certain extent. This tends to a stabilize or maintain the flow of glass constant, independent of variations in the temperature or viscosit of the glass, the amount Suspended from t e outlet, etc. The expelling force may be varied by varying the speed at which the re later is rotated and may also be varied y adjustng theregulator up or down.

In some instances, it may be desirable to reverse the direction of rotation and thereby exert a retarding action on the issuing glass.

.The rotation of the regulator in addition to exerting an expelling or retarding action, also has a stirring action on the glass, by which it is caused to circulate about the axs of the outlet, thereby maintaining or producing a more homogeneous condition, preventng stagnation or one-side chilling of the lass.

A sleeve memberor tubular casing 8 sur-' rounds the regulator 28 and projects downward into the glass. The lower end of the sleeve 85 is spaced a short distance above the floor of the boot. A lateral openng or o enings 86 formed in the side wall of the s eeve, permit the entrance of the glass. The

sleeve 85 is rotatively ad'ustable by means' of a hand wheel 87 on a s aft 88 which carries a pinion 89 in mesh with a gear 90 fixed to the sleeve 85. The opening 86 may thus be adjusted to any position around the plug, thereby controlling the path of flow of the lass. By having the said opening' at the ont side of the regulator, the main portion of the issuing glass is caused to flow forward to the front end of the boot before it is discharged, thereby preventing stagnation and cooling of the glass in front of the regulator, 'and nsuring a uniform temperature and homogeneity of the issuing glass. The sleeve 85 is also adjustable vertcally. For this purpose, it is carred on a yoke 90 adjustable up and down on the standards 91 and held in adjusted position by set screws 92. This vertical adjnstment regulates the amount of glass permitted to enter the well 23 through the annular passage 'ormed between the lower end of the sleeve and the floor of the boot. This has a material efiect in controlling the size and shape of the charges of lass. r g What I claim is:

1. The combination of a container for molten glass having an outlet opening in the bottom thereof, means for supplying glass to the container, a tapered screw threaded plug projecting downward into the glass over the oiltlet, and a tapered sleeve surrounding said p ug.

2. The combination of a container for molten glass-having an outlet opening in the bottom thereof, means for supplying glass to the container, a tapered screw-threaded plug projecting downward into the glass over the outlet, means for rotating said plu i to eXpel glass from said outlet, a tapered s eeve surrounding said plug, and means for relatvely moving said plugand sleeve axially to vary the clearance therebetween without interrupting the rotation of the plug.

. 3. The combination of a container for molten glass having an outlet opening in the floor thereof, a tapered sleeve algned with said opening and adjustable axially in respect thereto whereby to vary the distance between the bottom of the sleeve and the u per surface of the floor of the container adjacent said opening, a tapered screw-threaded plug located within the sleeve and having a portion projecting downwardl beyond the bottom of the sleeve and into the outlet opening.

4. The combination of a container tor molten glass having an outlet opening n the bottom thereof, means for supplyin lass to the container, a tapered screw-threa e plug proecting downward into the glass over the outet, a tapered sleeve surrounding said plug and provided with an opening adjacent the base thereof, a gear ring fast to the up er end of said sleeve, vertical standards a jacent the container, a cross-head carried b said standards' providing a support for sai plug, drivin mechanism for continuously rotating said p ug to expel glass from the outlet mounted on the crosshead, means for adjusting the cross-head on said standards to raise and lower the plug without interrupting its driving mechanism, a second cross-head carried by said standards providing a support for said sleeve, means for adjusting said second cross-head on said standards to raise and lower the sleeve without interrupting the rotation of said p1ug,'and manually operable means `carried by said second cross-' 5 head and engagn said gear ring for rotatably adjusting sai sleeve to. any'desired positjm 1without interrupting the rotation of sa ug.

Signed at Toledo, in the County of Lucas lo ?334 State of Ohio,-this 30th day of April,

LEONARD D. SOUBIER.

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